Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Singapore Philatelic Museum or Stamps Museum

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Singapore Philatelic Museum

Presenting... *drum roll... *chang chang

(click to enter official website)
*clap clap!

The free admission on Hari Raya provided incentive for me to finally explore this museum. (I was intrigued by the word 'philatelic' when I first heard of the museum. I had to check the dictionary before I knew what was inside!)

The museum is surprisingly eventful with 6 ongoing changing exhibitions -
  1. “Beijing Olympic Games” stamp display (Olympics)

  2. Dragons, Treasures and Masterpieces (China)

  3. Grand Prix Stamps (F1)

  4. Ode to Our Heroes (Singapore)

  5. Journey through the Land of Lotus (Vietnam)

  6. A Rat's Tale (Rats)
and...

5 permanent collection which serves to introduce you to various aspects of Philately and also some of Singapore's culture -
  1. Orange Room - Introduction to Philately

  2. Purple Room - Stamp Design and Printing Techniques

  3. Green Room - Famous Stamp Collectors

  4. Room of Rarities

  5. Heritage Room

Looking through the various exhibits, I came to appreciate the value of stamps. This seemingly insignificant and small item can in fact tell us so much about culture and history all over the world. The visuals that appear on them is actually also a form of art that I had never thought about before!

okok, hurry.
I want to share with you some of the things I saw!

A Rat's Tale

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A Rat's Tale

Exhibition that is a tribute to the year of rats.

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Exhibition wall

One could tell that the organisers had put in great effort to bring each exhibition to life. For this one, they made use of rats running along the walls in the museum to generate interest. Some of them even gave directions to lead visitors like me to the exbition. Others like the ones shown above simply showed playing rats.

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Favourite Children's Book Animals stamp from USA


There were so many stamps from around the world that depicted rats! Many used famous cartoon characters from children books or cartoon like the ones above. Others also include Mickey, Minnie and Jerry (from Tom&Jerry). Go see!

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Cartoon stamps from The Netherlands

Loved all the cute cartoon stamps on exhibit. My goodness, super cute. Imagine them on your letters. Definitely would brighten up your day if you receive one of these. I want that powerpuff *BAM stamp!!

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Boy playing Zodiac Wheel of Fortune

For parents, it is definitely alright to bring your children to the museum. There are many games station in the museum to ensure that your child is never bored.

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Mysterious chops

Actually, I also saw a couple of kids will some special booklets. Can't seem to find any information on the SPM website. But apparently, stamp-chops like this one is hidden all over the museum. The kids can follows clues on the booklet to find and collect all the stamps from the chops!

Dragons, Treasures and Masterpieces

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Dragons, Treasures and Masterpieces

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Long vertical Chinese stamps

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Socialist stamps

Interesting to see the same kind of art for posters and stamps during that period. Just smaller that's all.

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More socialist stamps

The main point is not the Mao.

I thought it was cool that in Chinese stamps, it is already for words to occupy the entire stamp. There are no pictures. This is is not that stark. At least we can say its calligraphy. Look at the next one:

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3 cents postage stamp stamped with 1 cent value

Purely words! Interesting...

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Wall paintings on stamps

Some religious influences here.

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Child playing 'match the stamp with its location'

Another one of those games station! He was so engrossed he didn't care if I was taking a photo of him.


Journey through the Land of the Lotus

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Vietnamese lanterns

This Vietnamese exhibit can be found both on the ground floor and the first floor. The hanging lanterns reminded me of my Hoi An trip 3 years ago! Just couldn't resist taking a photograph of them.

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Exhibits on the second level

This particular exhibit had a lot of cultural items on display besides postage stamp. If you want to know Vietnamese culture, you can come and take a look.

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Vietnamese mask

Look at the colours and its expression. I particularly like the moustache man in the middle, haha.


Heritage Room

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Mama shop decal at the entrance of the Heritage Room

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Inside Heritage Room

I like the room because I am allowed to touch anything I want! The room seems to draw you into the setting with realistic life size background pictures and real objects like the chinese drum that the children can't resist playing with. So once in a while you might think that the lion dance troupe is in the room until you realised the tune is a bit off -_-

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Trying on clogs

Clogs are spreaded across the floor. I was quite surprise when this parent immediately tried them on when he entered. I think he wanted to really get into the atmosphere and feel what's it like in the past. Its really nice that he could! Once again, I appreciate what the museum has done.

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Boy exploring cabinets

Rather than placing facts after facts on flat panels, this cupboard placed either text on the outside door and pictures on the inside or visa versa. It evokes curiosity in people and made the facts interesting to find out.


Room of Rarities

All the old stuff are kept here. It is quite nostalgic to be inside.

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Stamp booklet vending machine

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Royal Mail Chute

Click on the picture to read the history. I found it interesting.

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Singapore 1st Anniversary of Independence stamps

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Mailbox

I wouldn't have known I could open the door had it not been for a playful boy. So I decided to post this.


Other interesting things

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Record stamps (from Bhutan, I think)

There is an area that shows all the unique stamps that were made, for e.g. felt fabric ones, scented ones or ones with gold foil.

For this one, you can put it in a player to play folk music!! SO SO SO COOL!

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F1 stamps

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Harry Potter stamps!


Yeah! so if you want to go to the museum, take note that it will be closed on 5th and 6th Oct 2008 for upgrading purposes. Other than that, it opens


Monday : 1 pm - 7 pm
Tuesday to Sunday : 9 am - 7 pm



Admission is free if...

you are a Friends of Stamps member.
(remember to show your card!)



or


If it's New Year's Day, 2nd day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, Christmas Day, National Day, and International Museum Day



And if not, admission charges are as follows:


$5.00 for Adult
$4.00 for Child (3-12 years)



And finally,


How to get there??


click here for map.

The museum is located on 23B Coleman Street. If you know where the Central Fire Station is, its easy to find your way there. It's just around the corner.

Car: I didn't see any carparks so it is advisable to park at Excelsior Hotel's or Penisular Shopping Centre's carpark.

Bus services: The nearest bus stop is just outside, in front of the Armenian Church. For that bus stop, you can take

(SBS Transit) 2, 12, 32, 33, 51, 62, 63, 80, 197
(SMRT) 61

Along the road, buses stop at alternate stops. So if you don't mind walking a little more, you could also stop outside the MICA building.

(SBS Transit) 124, 145, 147, 166, 174, 521
(SMRT) 190, 851

MRT: 10 minutes from City Hall or Clarke Quay station




If you have been to the museum, feel free to share your thoughts with us or send your photos to singaporeseeing @ gmail.com.


Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Parents are the culprits of traffic jam

Traffic jam on Dover Road

Rain

Rain scene taken from bus shelter along Chin Swee Road

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Hari Raya Aidilfitri Geylang Serai!

"Salam Aidilfitri"

Road scene

It's going to be Hari Raya in 3 days' time!! So I took this chance to check out Geylang Serai for some cultural exposure.

I haven't been to this part of Singapore during this period for I think... (in fact) as long as I have lived(!). I always skipped the trips when my friends organised them because Geylang Serai seems soo far away... ... but tonight I went. Because I want to see.

I tried to entice either of my brothers to accompany me but to no avail. Haiz...

So, I went alone.

Stalls scene

The entire Geylang Serai is covered with huge bazaar tents that houses many stalls selling Hari Raya related goods from clothing to food stuff to home decor.

Baju Kebayas

I found that the Kebayas have an allure about them. Something about the poise and beauty of the woman in the traditional costume.

Shimmering accessories

The place had no lack of glimmers...

Buying clothes

The strong spotlights some stalls cast on themselves (probably to brighten up the stall and attract customers) made the whole stall look like a stage! Look at all the elaborate costumes.

Buying snacks for the festival

All those goodies... too bad I'm broke and growing fat :(

Extravagent home decor

I was walking through stalls and stalls of baju baju (clothes) and suddenly this came to sight. It was a pleasant change. Anw, this is really really authentic Malay decor right?

Interesting Chinese influence on the Baju Kebaya

And guess who's selling these? (ans: yeah, a chinese woman)

Carpet stall with price-fall signs

I felt so proud when I saw this scene. My basic Malay came to use and I actually understood what they were writing! " We will wrap up! Price fall!" "We want to wrap up! Price fall!"

Stall owner and his mat

Some stall owners bring their own mats and transform the stall into a homely environment. Some of them sat on the mat to have dinner together.

This stall owner was bare-footed.

Curtains and curtains

This particular tent had layers after layers of curtains and it made the whole experience so surreal. I felt like I was in an enchanted land. There was also a tinge of excitement because of the partial visibility of the following stretch, creating the sort of mysterious feel.

Henna artist

She asked the young girl if she was happy about her henna. The girl smiled and nodded. It was such a cosy scene!

Sandals stall

woah.

Man with loudspeaker

Wanted to portray the sound inside the bazaar so that you can hear it too :)

Spiderman!

How can there be no toys for the children??

Shoe with patterns

These pattern seriously run throughout the whole Geylang Serai. Everything is so richly decorated with patterns!

Girl waiting to try her shoes

The children must be happy and excited about Hari Raya =) I used to be so happy whenever it was Chinese New Year too.

The time was getting late as I wandered about. And so, I went home lor.



Would you like to share with us about Hari Raya or Geylang Serai? Email us at singaporeseeing @ gmail.com or simply write us a comment!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Hort Park


I often take the bus 963 which passes by this beautiful bridge with a HortPark sign underneath so I thought that the bridge was part of the park or something like that. But last thursday, when I finally found time to check out the park, I realised that it was not at all! The bridge is the Alexandra Arch and it is the little path behind the sign that leads to HortPark.

Having said so much, so what is HortPark?? For the information of those like me, HortPark is actually short for Horticulture Park and is a gardening hub.

Like many other Singaporeans, I live in a HDB with not much room for gardening activities and I was never interested. But when I was at HortPark, I was quite fascinated by the plants' colours, their display methods, the whole architecture and presentation of the plots. The place feels like one huge experiment lab with all these curious-looking things which makes the place interesting.


This is one of the shelters on the way to HortPark. It is pretty and inviting due to the beautiful flowers. Maybe after some time, the plant will creep to cover the whole pavillion. If not, I can only imagine myself sitting to appreciate the flowers only during my most poetic feeling evenings or nights 'cause it's way too hot in Singapore!



I was greeted by this beautiful mosaic art at the Hort Centre (i.e. entrance pavillion). The rays of lights are actually mirror tiles and the mix of colours makes the picture so cheerful!


Vertical planting. I thought it was a good idea if you have no place for trees and you want greenery around.


I like this one. The sign next to it says that this kind of gardening requires little maintenance. You put the plants in and cover it. The moisture inside is therefore recycled and it is a mini ecosystem by itself! so cool! It's pretty too. Reminds me of the ship in the glass or the antique chinese glass bottles. I might try it next time if I have my own house.



This is so funny! It's a nursery and they were trying to convey how we have to take care of plants like babies. See the cot and the baby walker??



Haha, his reminds me of my primary school days and the primary school garden. I remember I cut up a plastic bottle and put some jelly like substance to plant a money plant I cut from the neighbourhood park. I think it was for some science project in primary 4?



There's even a wizard of oz plot!



So cute! Flowers as eyes and flower pots as body parts!


A footpath piece.



I saw the sculpture and I laughed! They "see no evil" and "hear no evil" = the people sitting at the pair of benches nearby are probably *erhem* ....



Most benches are low and small which increases the fantasy factor in the park. I felt like Alice in Wonderland!

This is the Research Plot. Some of the plants are planted on the roof and they are experimenting on the possibility of roof gardening. Apparently there is some irrigation problem that has to be solved. The rest are under the roof, which is retractable so as to control the amount of sunlight or rain they receive. So scientific right?



I thought the concrete and glass building backdrop is interesting. Is this a characteristic in Singapore? Two contrasting elements so near to each other...


Work in progress!



The glass house in the park: There are a lot of beautiful flowers and they made me happy!

Some of the flowers.


One of my favourite trees in Singapore: Raintree. Looks like laces in the sky!



About halfway through the park, at the appropriate time and place, there is reasonably priced drinks at the Hands-on House and also has water cooler facilities.


The park authority hasn't forgotten that most people would come with children or friends. So they are a few playgrounds in the park and a group of youngsters seem to enjoy themselves at this higher difficulty one.


The mushrooms, stones, ridges and even the rhino is made entirely of rubber for children safety at this one. I like the rhino.


Here's one for younger children. It is thoughtful of them to place a pavillion next to this one for the parents.



A breather open space from the intricate plots and playground activities.



And good news for those who are looking for alternative places to surf the net! There's wireless@sg and two of benches in the entrance pavilion have electrical points near them. I sat on one of them and this is the view I saw.



Turtle hidden somewhere. See if you can find this! Btw, actually I found the plants growing out of the shell a little disturbing, haha..

Hey! Besides what I've shown, there are other interesting gardening plots like the Herbs Garden, Bamboo Labyrinth, Golden Garden and Silver Garden waiting for you to explore! (which is the point! I shan't spoil your fun of discovery) There is also a gardening mart for gardening enthusiast, a restaurant (KHA F&B outlet), seminar rooms for you to rent and many other activities at the park. For more information, the HortPark website at National Parks Board provides very comprehensive information including how to get there:

There are carparks at the park entrance so for those who drive, no worries! If you are there in the mornings, remember to bring your caps or umbrellas to protect yourselves from the sun.

In addition, from now till 27th Dec 2008, there is free guided tour and plant sale every last saturday of the month (i.e. this coming saturday 27/9 for the month of September). You have to register at the counter 15mins before the tour. So take note!